By Irene Dzirasa, Policy and Advocacy Associate, Operation Smile — A t a young age, Dr. Barnabas Alayande knew about the social determinants of health that prevented vulnerable patients from accessing quality health care services. Growing up in Nigeria, he recalls a moment when one of his siblings was sick with severe malaria and there was no money to pay…

By Kerigo Odada, Lawyer and PhD researcher at the University of Pretoria, Centre for Human Rights — For many of us, the phrase “global surgery” automatically makes us think of the traditional approach to medical practice that is confined to medical service providers. However, over the past few months, I have been introduced to global surgery through an intersectional lens that underscores the need for a multidisciplinary…

By Melanie Paxton, Health Policy and Advocacy Department, Operation Smile — Almost 17% of the world’s population lives in Africa, but most of them lack access to safe anesthesia due to a severe shortage of anesthesia workforce. The disparity between high-income countries and low-income…

By Mikyla Jade Rata, Global Surgery Fellow, Operation Smile — While working as a general surgeon in Zimbabwe, Dr. Dennis Mazingi found that the most inspirational patients he encountered were the children in the pediatric surgical ward. He was inspired by their bravery and amazing capacity to recover from devastating surgical conditions. However, Dr. Mazingi also observed many children with…

By John Streit, Managing Editor, Operation Smile — I’m experiencing some cognitive dissonance here. Take a look at the following two health awareness months: National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month National Birth Defects Awareness Month Both are rallying support to spread attention and recognition around congenital conditions. Yet, the first leaves me feeling more inclined to…

Dr. Allyn Auslander, Associate Vice President of Research, Operation Smile This article was originally published on the International Business Times. I’ve been lucky (and privileged) enough to travel to many low- and middle-income countries for my research. The commonalities I’ve seen are comforting and inspirational — the kindness of families…

Marc Ascher, Photo Editor and Photographer, Operation Smile — Good ideas and good intentions can always be made better with a little insight. After my first Operation Smile medical mission more than 20 years ago, I was struck that the children who came to the hospital had no toys with them. The parents I know can’t drive down the…

Kendra Davenport, Chief Development Officer, Operation Smile — Much has been written about how the pandemic has changed the way we work, interact with colleagues, approach our professions and manage the new stresses it has created. No matter your profession — whether it be blue- or white-collar — chances are you are not operating the same way you…

Ernest Gaie, Senior Advisor Global Business Operations, Operation Smile — In 2015, the Lancet Global Health medical journal published a report that revealed an alarming five billion people do not have access to safe surgical care when they need it. Additionally, 17 million lives are lost every year from surgically treatable conditions. Surgery is a critical component of an effective…